When Does It Start Getting Dark After Daylight Saving Time In 2016? The Days Are About To Get Much Shorter

The temperature is dropping and the sun is setting earlier and earlier. There's no more avoiding it — fall is upon us. I mean, technically fall was upon us as soon as the autumnal equinox on Sept. 22 happened, but I am living in a constant state of denial that summer is over. But now that Daylight Saving Time is drawing near, I really can't deny it for much longer. We're going to set our clocks back an hour, and it will start getting dark after Daylight Saving Time. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it's time we all start bracing ourselves.

It's already started getting darker earlier (for those in New York, anyway — I can't attest to the other states). In the summer — it seemed like it was only a week ago — it would get dark at 9 p.m. or even 10 p.m.! Now, I'm lucky if I emerge from work at 7 p.m. and it's still light out. And things are about to get much, much worse. After we set the clocks back on Nov. 6, 2016 at 2 a.m., we're going to be saying goodbye to the sun even earlier. But just how early? Timeanddate.com reports that in Washington, D.C., the sun will rise post-DST around 6:41 a.m. and set around 5:02 p.m. Eek! That's only 10 hours and 20 minutes of sunlight! And, actually, Nov. 6 is the longest day D.C. will have for a while — daylight hours will continue to drop throughout the month of November, with the lowest being a dismal 9 hours and 39 minutes of precious sun on Nov. 30.

But that's just one example. Because I'm selfish, let's take a look at how depressing it will be in New York next month. According to Timeanddate.com, once we fall back on daylight saving time, we can expect a pretty respectable 10 hours and 13 minutes of sunlight, with sunset at 4:46 p.m. — OK, never mind. I take back what I said about that being a respectable amount of daylight. That's not even 5 p.m.! But wait! It gets worse! On Nov. 30, 2016 the sun will rise in New York at 7 a.m. and set at 4:29 p.m., which is literally the time I eat lunch on most days.

It's safe to say I am inconsolable now that I've heard this news. But let's focus on the positive here. Daylight saving time is still over a month away. So, while it's tempting to spend the next month and change holing ourselves up at home, lamenting the impending approach of winter, I challenge all of you to hold off. Spend these last few precious weeks appreciating the fact that the sun is out post-lunchtime. Because before we know it, those days will be gone, and we'll just be wandering about aimlessly in the darkness. Okay, that was maybe a little melodramatic. But you get my point. Enjoy it while you can.